Ultra-consistent mare Alice Downs delivered on what she had promised for so long when she posted an easy win at Stawell on Thursday.
Ridden by John Allen, the five-year-old mare drifted back to third last mid-race before weaving through the field to land the Daniel Thomas Plumbing Special Ballot Maiden (1307m).
Trainer Vincent Malady said the win was a long time coming and well deserved.
“She’s never been far away in her races,” Vincent said.
In her 17 starts she has finished in the top five 14 times while her other three runs she finished sixth.
“It’s quite remarkable that she has not won before now,” Vincent said,
“She was really unlucky at her previous start when she was trapped three-wide without cover at Camperdown and finished third, beaten less 1-1/2 lengths,” Vincent said.
Well supported as $2.80 second favourite, Alice Downs was ridden along to improve approaching the home turn and was held up briefly before Allen steered her between horses near the 200m.
Under hands and heels riding she hit the front inside the final 50 metres and dashed clear to beat Downtown Man ($19) and Elite Party ($41) by 1-3/4 lengths.
“John didn’t have to do much on her in the closing stages, so it was a pretty soft win in the end,” Vincent said.
By Ready for Victory, Alice Downs was the second winner for John and Helen McPhee who bred her from their Marwina mare Carat Cake.
They also bred and own Morning Darling, who carrying their pink and black colours won at Bendigo last Saturday.